Question 23

The number of ways, 5 boys and 4 girls can sit in a row so that either all the boys sit together or no two boys sit together, is


Correct Answer: 17280

If all the boys sit together, then there will be 4 girls and 1 group of boys. 

Number of ways in which the boys can be arranged = 5!

Number of ways in which 4 girls and 1 group of boys can be arranged = 5!

Total number of ways in which we can arrange 4 girls and 5 boys such that all the boys sit together = $$5!\times5!=14400$$

Now, we have to arrange the boys and girls such that no two boys sit together. 

So, we will first fix the positions of girls in 1 way where girls are sitting at the alternate positions (not at the first or the last position) out of the total 9 positions.

Girls will sit at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th positions.  

Number of ways in which the girls are arranged = 4!

Now, the boys will sit in the remaining places.  

Number of ways in which the boys are arranged = 5! 

Total number of ways in which we can arrange the boys and girls such that no two boys sit together = $$4!\times5!=2880$$

Total number of ways in which we can arrange 5 boys and 4 girls such that either all the boys sit together or no boys sit together at all = $$14400+2880=17280$$

$$\therefore\ $$ The required answer is 17280.

 

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